What is the Difference Between Deep Web and Dark Web?

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Key differences between two mysterious corners of the internet
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Do you want to know the difference between the deep web and the dark web? While these two terms are often used interchangeably, the deep web and dark web are not the same. The dark web is a part of the deep web, but not everything on the deep web is part of the dark web. This wikiHow article teaches you the differences between the deep web, dark web, and surface web, as well as how to access each.

Things You Should Know

  • The dark web requires a special web browser to access, while the deep web is accessible in any browser.
  • The deep web includes anything that is not indexed by a search engine, including emails, bank accounts, and password-protected content.
  • Not everything on the deep web or dark web is illegal or illicit, but some of it is.
Section 1 of 5:

What is the Deep Web?

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  1. Anything that you cannot find with a Google search is part of the deep web. This includes the contents of websites that require accounts to access. Most people unknowingly access the deep web every day.
    • Deep web services include anything that is password protected or behind a paywall, such as your email, bank account, or your Netflix subscription. Internet Archives is also a deep web tool that allows you to search websites that no longer exist.
    • The deep web also includes content on the dark web because you can't find dark web content using a standard search engine.
    • It is estimated that 90 - 95% of the internet is part of the deep web. The deep web contains as much as 7,500 terabytes of data.
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Section 2 of 5:

What is the Dark Web?

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  1. Dark web contents are on a separate network than the rest of the internet. The dark web is a hidden subset of the internet that can only be accessed using an anonymous web browser such as the TOR browser .
    • The dark web is known for illegal content, such as drug sales, and stolen credit cards. [1] However, it is also a place for people to communicate freely. Journalists and people who live in countries with oppressive regimes often use the internet to get around censorship laws. Also, corporate and government whistleblowers can use the dark web to protect their identities.
    • While you cannot access the dark web using a typical search engine, like Google, the dark web has have its own search engines that index dark websites.
    • The TOR Network , which is used to access the dark web, was invented by researchers from the US Department of Defense to facilitate anonymous communications between intelligence sources. [2] The TOR browser is now used by people from all walks of life.
    • Is it illegal to access the dark web? It is not illegal to access anonymous content using an anonymous web browser. However, it is illegal to access certain kinds of content on the dark web. Illegal content, such as stolen credit cards, drug sales, and illicit pornography can be illegal to access.
Section 3 of 5:

What is the Surface Web?

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  1. When talking about the deep web and the dark web, it's also important to know what the surface web is. The surface web is any part of the internet that is public and searchable via a search engine, like Google. The surface web is the public subset of the internet. The deep web is the private subset of the internet. The dark web is the secret subset of the internet.
    • The surface web includes public websites as well as blogs and social media posts.
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Section 4 of 5:

How to Access the Deep Web

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  1. Most of what is on the deep web is either password-protected or behind a paywall. To gain access to the deep web, you need to sign up for a service. Some services require a credit card, while others are free to sign up for. Signing up for a service usually requires you to provide some personal information as well as create a username and password.
  2. The deep web contains private content. To protect your privacy on the deep web, you need to create a strong password that uses a combination of lower-case and capital letters, numbers, and special characters. You should also avoid using words from the dictionary.
    • In addition to creating a strong password, you can also add more security using 2-factor authentication. In addition to entering a password, you will also receive a one-time password via a text message or an authenticator app .
  3. Once you have created a username and a strong password, go to the log-in page for the service you want to access. The log-in page is on the surface web. Sign in using your username and password to access the deep web content.
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Section 5 of 5:

How to Access the Dark Web

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  1. The most common web browser used to access the dark web is the TOR browser . However, there are other anonymous web browsers, such as I2P, and Freenet, which can be used to access different websites on the dark web.
  2. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. These are used to mask your IP address and conceal your identity while you surf the internet.
  3. The dark web uses special web URLs that cannot be accessed using a standard web browser. For example, the TOR browser is used to access ".onion" websites. [3] You cannot access an Onion site using a standard browser, like Google Chrome.
    • If you want to explore the dark web, you can do so using dark web search engine. These are websites that index dark websites exclusively. Some dark web search engines include Ahmia.fi and The Hidden Wiki. Both of these websites have a surface web version of their website with onion links, but you need to use the TOR browser to access onion links.
  4. The dark web is home to lots of nefarious activity. It's important to take some extra precautions to protect yourself on the dark web. Use an anonymous email and encrypt your messages with PGP . Cover your webcam with duct tape and do not click on any random URLs that you don't know what they are.
    • In addition to using an anonymous web browser and email, you can also use an anonymous operating system. Anonymous operating systems, like Whonix, can be booted from a USB drive. When you are done using it, no information is saved and the operating system reverts back to its original state.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I get a computer virus from the deep and dark web?
    Adam Hack
    Cryptocurrency Expert
    Adam Hack is a Cryptocurrency expert based in Miami, Florida. He is the CEO & Founder at Coin Nerds, a multi-purpose cryptocurrency exchange platform that allows users to buy, sell, and trade their crypto in-person and online. Founded in 2018, Coin Nerds’ mission is to educate those with little to no experience in the rising Web3.0 economy through a combination of physical storefronts and intuitive online platforms. Through Coin Nerds, Adam has furthered his aim to not only make crypto purchasing increasingly efficient but to also capture the confusion behind crypto research into a necessary requirement for purchasing these assets. The platform prioritizes providing an accessible, customer-centric approach. Adam and Coin Nerds have been featured in multiple publications, including Yahoo Finance, The Wall Street Journal, and Fox Business. Adam recieved a BASc in Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo.
    Adam Hack
    Cryptocurrency Expert
    Expert Answer
    Absolutely! You will encounter viruses and malware when browsing the deep and dark web. As anonymity is the hallmark of the dark net, lots of illegal activities are being made there, and this is a breeding ground for tons of malicious software. When accessing these websites in the dark web, you are actually entering the underworlds of cyberspace with reduced or nearly no security measures in place. This means there's a chance of being exposed to the infection of files, phishing frauds, and other kinds of cyber threats that may endanger your device's security. 
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cisa.gov/stopransomware/dark-web-and-cyber-crime
      2. ↑ https://www.torproject.org/about/history/
      3. ↑ https://community.torproject.org/onion-services/overview/

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